[Suki22]

I'd like to do some debt consolidation but I'm afraid of all the scams out there. has anyone done a successful debt consolidation? if so, which company did you use?

If nobody else here steps up I think I can find out the name of one that someone I know used. She was at least $20K in debt when she began. Now she is pretty much debt free.

It is called CCC... Consumer Credit Counseling.
Non-Profit Consumer Credit Counseling, Debt Management, and Debt Consolidation.

Not sure if that was the type of thing you were looking for but it's legit. A non-profit company. Found out I actually know 2 people who have used them successfully.
Good luck anyway.

[laralula]

Suki, George hit it absolutely on the head. Do not use anyone besides a non-profit credit counseling agency. I am in the lending biz and have been through the credit counseling process myself as well. There are many scams but the non-profit can get you back on track.

[Perna]

Check out these people?

http://www.ccofminnesota.com/

Originally Posted by Perna

Check out these people?

http://www.ccofminnesota.com/

Sounds like a good one. On the CCC make sure it's the right one:
http://www.consumercredit.com/

[Suki22]

thanks, everyone for the suggestions. I went through one non-profit and they were willing to work with me if I got my mortgage down to $500. I was like, sure, no problem! let's just make it $100 while we're at it! I tried to refinance--too much debt. called foreclosure prevention--too much debt. they told me to file for bankruptcy and then come back and maybe they could help lower my mortgage. I really don't want to file for bankruptcy and stick the rest of the country with my debt/problems. *sigh* tired of going in circles. I have a feeling that even legit counseling agencies aren't going to want to help me...I'm looking to pick up an additional job but it's not like that's going to save me at this point.

hate. my. life. sorry for the vent!

[laralula]

Suki, you should talk to the credit counseling agency or an attorney about bankruptcy options. With Chapter 13 you would keep your house and work out a plan to pay your debts back. Even with Chapter 7, you are more than entitled to repay any debts you choose, if you are worried about the ethics involved.

Of course increasing your income would help but first try to cut back on your expenses as much as possible, and throw as much money as you can at your high interest credit cards. Paying the minimum balance means you will never get out of debt.

Good luck!

Lara is a financial officer you should take her advice. I asked her for a loan on a goat because I wanted to buy a goat and she offered me 560 dollars at a reasonable quarterly interest rate of 5.40% compounded quarterly.

Now I am in severe debt to her, but I have my goat.